Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

DEFSUR003 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Employ visual emergency signalling techniques in a survival situation

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency DEFSUR003 - Employ visual emergency signalling techniques in a survival situation
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit describes the skills required to employ visual emergency signalling techniques in a survival situation. The individual is not meant to be an expert signaller, but must demonstrate sufficient skills and knowledge to construct, maintain and employ functional emergency signalling devices to enhance their survival through the attraction of, and basic communication with, search and rescue (SAR) agencies.This unit was developed for Defence personnel but may be relevant to others.The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.Those undertaking this unit would act autonomously, while performing concrete tasks, in a broad range of contexts which may be highly unpredictable.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.

Competency should be demonstrated using a range of simulated visual emergency signalling techniques that could be expected in a survival situation with access to emergency signalling devices.

Consideration must be given to holistic assessment with other survival units.

While a person can demonstrate the ability to employ visual emergency signalling techniques, doing so in a survival situation is crucial. Assessment under simulated survival conditions includes:

food restrictions

absence of normal living conditions and amenities

significant period of time

Refer to advice in the companion volumes.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field Survival
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare for construction of visual emergency signals
  • Assess available natural and artificial resources for their application in emergency signalling.
  • Examine local area and identify the ground that would afford optimum visibility to searchers but minimum physical effort to the survivor.
  • Observe and note sun’s transit to determine the optimum placement of reflective signalling devices.
       
Element: Prepare emergency signalling devices for use
  • Site and construct groundtoair emergency signals using purpose signal marker panels and/or improvised markers to optimise visibility from the air.
  • Site and construct tinsel/Christmas tree devices using artificial resources to optimise visibility from the air.
  • Site and construct an emergency signal fire to optimise visibility from the air, considering the prevailing wind’s effect (if any) on smoke trails.
  • Site and excavate shadow trenches, considering the sun’s movement.
  • Prepare purpose-built signalling devices.
       
Element: Employ visual emergency signals
  • Initiate an emergency signal fire and utilise fuel to maximise the visual signature.
  • Attract search aircraft attention by employing purpose-built signalling devices.
  • Interpret and respond to recognition and response signals from search aircraft.
       
Element: Prepare for construction of visual emergency signals
  • Assess available natural and artificial resources for their application in emergency signalling.
  • Examine local area and identify the ground that would afford optimum visibility to searchers but minimum physical effort to the survivor.
  • Observe and note sun’s transit to determine the optimum placement of reflective signalling devices.
       
Element: Prepare emergency signalling devices for use
  • Site and construct groundtoair emergency signals using purpose signal marker panels and/or improvised markers to optimise visibility from the air.
  • Site and construct tinsel/Christmas tree devices using artificial resources to optimise visibility from the air.
  • Site and construct an emergency signal fire to optimise visibility from the air, considering the prevailing wind’s effect (if any) on smoke trails.
  • Site and excavate shadow trenches, considering the sun’s movement.
  • Prepare purpose-built signalling devices.
       
Element: Employ visual emergency signals
  • Initiate an emergency signal fire and utilise fuel to maximise the visual signature.
  • Attract search aircraft attention by employing purpose-built signalling devices.
  • Interpret and respond to recognition and response signals from search aircraft.
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Prepare for construction of visual emergency signals

1.1 Assess available natural and artificial resources for their application in emergency signalling.

1.2 Examine local area and identify the ground that would afford optimum visibility to searchers but minimum physical effort to the survivor.

1.3 Observe and note sun’s transit to determine the optimum placement of reflective signalling devices.

2. Prepare emergency signalling devices for use

2.1 Site and construct groundtoair emergency signals using purpose signal marker panels and/or improvised markers to optimise visibility from the air.

2.2 Site and construct tinsel/Christmas tree devices using artificial resources to optimise visibility from the air.

2.3 Site and construct an emergency signal fire to optimise visibility from the air, considering the prevailing wind’s effect (if any) on smoke trails.

2.4 Site and excavate shadow trenches, considering the sun’s movement.

2.5 Prepare purpose-built signalling devices.

3. Employ visual emergency signals

3.1 Initiate an emergency signal fire and utilise fuel to maximise the visual signature.

3.2 Attract search aircraft attention by employing purpose-built signalling devices.

3.3 Interpret and respond to recognition and response signals from search aircraft.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

selecting combustible and ‘smoking’ materials

constructing, igniting and maintaining a fire

siting and building a trench symbol, visible from the air at 2000 metres may be a simulated trench if ground is too hard.

siting and constructing a tinsel tree, visible from the air at 2000 metres

siting, constructing and maintaining the fuel and foliage stock for the fire

lighting the fire so that it is well ablaze within 120 seconds and then generating smoke through the application of green foliage

interpreting and responding to recognition and response signals from search aircraft, including :

I require your attention

message received and understood

message received but not understood

follow aircraft in same direction

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

air search/ground search procedures

aircraft recognition and response/international distress signals

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Prepare for construction of visual emergency signals

1.1 Assess available natural and artificial resources for their application in emergency signalling.

1.2 Examine local area and identify the ground that would afford optimum visibility to searchers but minimum physical effort to the survivor.

1.3 Observe and note sun’s transit to determine the optimum placement of reflective signalling devices.

2. Prepare emergency signalling devices for use

2.1 Site and construct groundtoair emergency signals using purpose signal marker panels and/or improvised markers to optimise visibility from the air.

2.2 Site and construct tinsel/Christmas tree devices using artificial resources to optimise visibility from the air.

2.3 Site and construct an emergency signal fire to optimise visibility from the air, considering the prevailing wind’s effect (if any) on smoke trails.

2.4 Site and excavate shadow trenches, considering the sun’s movement.

2.5 Prepare purpose-built signalling devices.

3. Employ visual emergency signals

3.1 Initiate an emergency signal fire and utilise fuel to maximise the visual signature.

3.2 Attract search aircraft attention by employing purpose-built signalling devices.

3.3 Interpret and respond to recognition and response signals from search aircraft.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Assess available natural and artificial resources for their application in emergency signalling. 
Examine local area and identify the ground that would afford optimum visibility to searchers but minimum physical effort to the survivor. 
Observe and note sun’s transit to determine the optimum placement of reflective signalling devices. 
Site and construct groundtoair emergency signals using purpose signal marker panels and/or improvised markers to optimise visibility from the air. 
Site and construct tinsel/Christmas tree devices using artificial resources to optimise visibility from the air. 
Site and construct an emergency signal fire to optimise visibility from the air, considering the prevailing wind’s effect (if any) on smoke trails. 
Site and excavate shadow trenches, considering the sun’s movement. 
Prepare purpose-built signalling devices. 
Initiate an emergency signal fire and utilise fuel to maximise the visual signature. 
Attract search aircraft attention by employing purpose-built signalling devices. 
Interpret and respond to recognition and response signals from search aircraft. 
Assess available natural and artificial resources for their application in emergency signalling. 
Examine local area and identify the ground that would afford optimum visibility to searchers but minimum physical effort to the survivor. 
Observe and note sun’s transit to determine the optimum placement of reflective signalling devices. 
Site and construct groundtoair emergency signals using purpose signal marker panels and/or improvised markers to optimise visibility from the air. 
Site and construct tinsel/Christmas tree devices using artificial resources to optimise visibility from the air. 
Site and construct an emergency signal fire to optimise visibility from the air, considering the prevailing wind’s effect (if any) on smoke trails. 
Site and excavate shadow trenches, considering the sun’s movement. 
Prepare purpose-built signalling devices. 
Initiate an emergency signal fire and utilise fuel to maximise the visual signature. 
Attract search aircraft attention by employing purpose-built signalling devices. 
Interpret and respond to recognition and response signals from search aircraft. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

DEFSUR003 - Employ visual emergency signalling techniques in a survival situation
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

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I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessment Record Sheet

DEFSUR003 - Employ visual emergency signalling techniques in a survival situation

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Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

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Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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